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Black mold at Animal Care Services and Resource Center
Published
Modified
Bernalillo County Animal Care Services and Resource Center will be closed through early next week following a discovery of black mold in the building.
The building was tested for mold on Oct. 11 after an employee raised concerns about a potential contamination. Another round of testing was done on Oct. 15 and 16, with results from 35 samples returned.
The results showed the areas affected by the mold included “the main hallway and surrounding rooms, as well as several kennel areas,” according to a county news release.
Remediation work began Friday, with the kennel spaces having the least amount of mold being treated first.
The county said about 36 animals would need short-term relocation, while another 28 would potentially need to be moved for a longer term.
The tests showed that the mold is contained in the ceiling tiles. Other areas affected will take longer to fix and will remain closed until the situation is resolved.
The center is expected to reopen on Tuesday.
“We are extremely disappointed by this discovery but are doing everything in our power to adjust our processes so that we can continue to provide the best care for these animals until we can find them a new home,” Animal Care Director Misha Goodman said in the release. “If you have ever considered adopting or fostering, you are needed now more than ever.”
